Apparatus for Sight Assembly for a Weapon

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a sight assembly apparatus for a weapon to sight one or more targets. The sight assembly apparatus comprises of two tubes. Both tubes may be equipped with lens protector covers and the exterior exposed surface of the tubes may have hard and robust coatings to provide long life and clean viewing over extended periods of time. The first tube may contain an optical receiver and one or more focal planes. The second tube may be a laser range finder. The two tubes may terminate in a box containing the associated electronics, a screen, a computer processor, one or more power sources, a radio transceiver and a stylus. The sight assembly may be mounted on a weapon via mounting hardware. Examples of mounting hardware include, but are not limited to, clamping hardware and rail mounted hardware.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments of the invention are related generally to an improved stand alone sight assembly apparatus for a recoilless rifle such as the 84 mm weapon used by the United States, as well as other countries.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to weapon systems, and particularly to weapon sights used by such weapons to facilitate their orientation with respect to a target. The invention is particularly useful with respect to weapon sights for recoilless rifles; however, it will also be appreciated that the invention could be used with other types of weapons, such as, for example, grenade launchers and the like.

A gunner during a military operation may be confronted with the need to see around a corner or over an obstacle without personal exposure. Other serious problems involved during military operations include the need to communicate battlefield conditions in real time to commanders or to headquarters, and the need for the individual soldier-combatants to receive commands, instructions, or other information in real time from commanders or from headquarters.

Accordingly, a solution is needed to provide a weapon sight assembly having advantages in one or more of the above respects.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a sight assembly apparatus for a weapon to sight one or more targets, the apparatus comprising a first tube comprising of an optical receiver and at least one focal plane to receive photons of at least one target; a second tube comprising of a laser range finder; mounting hardware to mount the sight assembly on the weapon; and an electronics box comprising a screen to display at least one option to the user, at least one computer processor executing stored instructions to determine an aim point, at least one power source to supply power to the sight assembly and a stylus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings figures, wherein:

FIG. 1A is a block diagram illustrating the front-view of an exemplary embodiment of the sight assembly.

FIG. 1B is a block diagram illustrating the side-view of an exemplary embodiment of the sight assembly.

FIG. 1C is a block diagram illustrating the conception isometric drawing of an exemplary embodiment of the sight assembly.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary embodiment illustrating the screen of the sight assembly.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual block diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of the sight assembly.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual block diagram illustrating the electrical structure of an exemplary embodiment of the sight assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention include an improved sight assembly apparatus for a recoilless rifle such as the 84 mm weapon used by the United States and other countries worldwide. The sight assembly, when attached to a weapon, may provide a gunner with the ability to view one or more targets, such as a tank, an armored or non-armored vehicle, and/or infantry masses on the ground or in armored personnel carriers. The sight assembly may also be used to illuminate the battlefield at night using smoke round deployment (flares). The sight assembly may be used by the gunner when firing various types of ammunition rounds. Examples of ammunition rounds include, but are not limited to, high explosive, high explosive anti-armor, high explosive anti-tank (“HEAT”), illumination, smoke, practice anti-armor and practice high explosive rounds. Each sight assembly unit may comprise a computer processor containing a table of data that is factored into the calculation of the specific aim point for each round. The sight assembly may be adapted to a variety of weapons, and the associated mounting hardware may be altered based on the selected weapon. Examples of mounting hardware include, but are not limited to, clamping hardware and rail mounted hardware.

FIG. 1A is a block diagram illustrating the front-view of an exemplary embodiment of the sight assembly apparatus. The sight assembly 100 will be mounted on a recoilless rifle 10 and may comprise two tubes 115 and 120. In an embodiment of the invention, the two tubes 115 and 120 are parallel and approximately 2.5 centimeters to 5.0 centimeters in diameter each, respectively. Both tubes may be equipped with lens protector covers. The lens protector covers may be of the snap open/snap shut variety. The exterior exposed surface of the tubes may also have hard and robust coatings to provide long life and clean viewing over extended periods of time. The two tubes 115 and 120 may terminate in a box 130 containing the associated electronics, such as a screen 135, a screen cover 170, a computer processor 145, one or more power sources 125, a radio receiver 150, a stylus 105 and an earphone plug and microphone or transceiver 180 to command and control. The sight assembly may be mounted on a weapon via mounting hardware 140. Examples of mounting hardware include, but are not limited to, clamping hardware, rail mounting hardware and male dove tail attachment hardware.

The first tube 120 may contain an optical receiver and one or more focal planes and the total field of view. The viewing optics may receive photons (image) of the target within the total field of view of the optics. The optical receiver may receive the laser reflection signal in, for example, one-second multiple pulses. In an embodiment of the invention, there may be two focal planes with an impact beam prism splitter for day and/or night. In embodiments of the invention, the day/night infrared focal plane may normally be equipped with an integral thermoelectric-type cooler. The sensitivity of sight may be affected by one or more of the following factors: focal length, focal ratio (f-number), transmissivity of the lens system, zooming function and net equivalent temperature difference (NEAT) of focal plane cells, in addition to many other factors. In an embodiment of the invention, the focal plane may be used as a laser-reflected receiver, provided that the wavelength sensitivity is the same for the focal plane and laser reflected energy, e.g., 10.6μ, to ensure a good signal and to reduce the cost of the laser range finder. The combination of the receiver for the laser and the scene viewing focal plane may also be provided with adequate protection for the signal receiving focal plane and electronics if the reflected signal is sufficiently strong to cause damage to the focal plane.

The focal plane, together with the optics, may be used to determine certain parameters, including: total field of view, instantaneous field of view (often referred to as the resolution) and the sensitivity of the apparatus (i.e., the quantity of photons striking the focal plane to provide a discernable and clear image). For example, the parameter values may be as follows: total field of view=30° horizontally×20° vertically, and instantaneous field of view=0.5 milliradians, which will enable the apparatus to derive 0.5 meters at a range of 1000 meters and sensitivity of the apparatus=0.3° C. (degrees centigrade) which would allow the sight to derive a temperature difference of 0.3° C. at the aperture of the sight optics. An instantaneous field of view of 1.0 milliradians or even 2.0 milliradians may be argued to be adequate.

These parameters may be used to determine the cost and complexity of design of the sight assembly. However, the principles underlying the operation of the sight assembly remain exactly the same regardless of the refinement of these parameters. The size of the optical receiver may also affect the complexity of the design of the sight assembly. For example, if the viewing spectral window is 8-12 microns, then a 0.5 milliradians instantaneous field of view requires approximately two inch optics and 1.0 milliradians instantaneous field of view requires one inch optics. The final selection of parameters may be determined based on the desired cost and tactical efficiency of the sight assembly.

The second tube 115 may be a laser range finder. In an embodiment of the invention, the laser range finder has optics collimated at an ideal range such as fifty meters (50 m) to five-hundred meters (500 m). The laser power may be low by nature of its use. For example, the laser power may be one-hundred millijoules (100 mj) or less. The laser range finder may be a carbon dioxide laser (“CO₂ laser”). Using a CO₂ laser will enable the use of an infra-red viewing scope in the 8-12μ range as a laser receiver. An ideal CO₂ laser range finder may be continuous wave or pulsing. A pulsing device may record into the sight's integral computer processor 145 enough range data to enable the sight assembly 100 to create a predictive filer to estimate the target's position within the total field of view and thereby enable the gunner to more accurately impact moving targets. The final aim point seen on the gunner's screen may include the gunner's guess as to the wind and a prediction of the wind's impact on a roving target's position at different ranges.

The screen 135 may be hardened according to military specifications and may be able to absorb jolts and the like. The screen 135 may be able to snap open and closed, or, in some embodiments, extended horizontally. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the screen may be approximately 12 centimeters wide by 7 centimeters high, and both back lit and front lit for ideal day/night operation. The screen 135 may display various outputs and may allow the sight's function to be adjusted as required by touch. Exemplary embodiments of the screen are discussed in more detail below with reference to FIG. 2. The stylus 105 may be connected to the box 130 using a spring-loaded wire cable 110. The stylus 105 may be withdrawn by the gunner and then automatically replaced after each use.

Once all the parameters have been determined, the computer processor 145 may calculate the specific aim point for each round using one or more of the following data points: the elevation of the barrel of the weapon, range (determined using the laser range finder 115), position of the target compared to the horizontal (that is, above the horizontal or below the horizontal), temperature of the air at the moment of firing, compass position and approximate velocity and direction of the wind, and the type of round.

The sight assembly 100 may also contain a radio receiver (or transceiver) 150 to benefit from field command and control data. For example, command and control data may note infantry moving in a hostile direction at a compass position of NNW. 330° and a range of 5000 meters. Then, the recoilless rifles in the hands of various friendly infantry may be loaded with high explosive (HE) rounds with 10M proximity fuses and when advised by the built in range finder and/or the command and control position of a realistic range, the HE rounds and infantry may begin to attack the hostile forces.

FIG. 1B is a block diagram illustrating the side-view of an exemplary embodiment of the sight assembly apparatus. The sight assembly 100 may comprise two tubes 115 and 120. In an embodiment of the invention, the two tubes 115 and 120 are parallel and approximately 2.5 centimeters to 5.0 centimeters in diameter each, respectively. Both tubes may be equipped with lens protector covers 160 and 165. The lens protector covers may be of the snap open/snap shut variety. The exterior exposed surface of the tubes may also have hard and robust coatings to provide long life and clean viewing over extended periods of time. The two tubes 115 and 120 may terminate in a box 130 containing the associated electronics, a screen 135, a screen cover 170, a computer processor 145 (not pictured in FIG. 1B), one or more power sources 125 (not pictured in FIG. 1B), a radio receiver 150 (not pictured in FIG. 1B), a stylus 105 that may be connected to the box 130 using a spring-loaded wire cable 110 and an earphone plug and microphone or transceiver 180 to command and control. The sight assembly may be mounted on a weapon via mounting hardware 140. Examples of mounting hardware include, but are not limited to, clamping hardware, rail mounting hardware and male dovetail attachment hardware.

FIG. 1C is a block diagram illustrating the conception isometric drawing of an exemplary embodiment of the sight assembly. The sight assembly 100 may comprise two tubes 115 and 120. Both tubes may be equipped with lens protector covers 160 and 165 which may be of the snap open/snap shut variety. The two tubes 115 and 120 may terminate in a box 130 containing the associated electronics, a screen 135, a screen cover 170, a computer processor 145 (not pictured in FIG. 1C), one or more power sources 125 (not pictured in FIG. 1C), a radio receiver 150 (not pictured in FIG. 1C), a stylus 105 that may be connected to the box 130 using a spring-loaded wire cable 110 and an earphone plug and microphone or transceiver 180 to command and control. The sight assembly may be mounted on a weapon via mounting hardware 140. Examples of mounting hardware include, but are not limited to, clamping hardware, rail mounting hardware and male dovetail attachment hardware. In an embodiment of the invention, the screen cover 170 may be connected to the screen 135 using a spring-loaded mechanism 175 a-175 c.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary embodiment illustrating the screen of the sight assembly apparatus. The screen 135 may be gray or grayish-green in color with black or white target and terrain features typical for infra-red screens. The screen 135 may display a double reticule—an agile reticule 215 and a stationary reticule 210. The agile reticule 215 may display the target, its range and its movement, if any, as well as the outside ambient temperature and wind estimation. In an embodiment of the invention, the agile reticule 215 may appear on the screen as a red blinking dot, surrounded by concentric circles (indicating the gunner's opinion regarding the magnitude of the wind) with multiple spokes (indicating the gunner's opinion regarding the direction of the wind). Accordingly, if, for example, the user sensed wind coming from his or her left at about 10 knots, the user would touch a left hand spoke and an inner concentric circle to indicate that the winds are light and coming from the left. In such an embodiment, the agile reticule 215 may blink rapidly on any object within the laser's divergent field of view. However, the gunner may decide upon the best target within the field of view and place the agile reticule 215 on that target. The gunner could then move the agile reticule 215 to align with the center of the stationary reticule 210 and pull the trigger for simple but accurate aiming and firing. Thus, the stationary reticule 210 may indicate the instant to pull the trigger when aligned with the agile reticule 215 by the gunner. During the short seconds when the target is selected and the weapon is moved by the gunner, such that the agile reticule 215 is aligned with the stationary reticule 210, the computer processor 145 (not pictured in FIG. 2) may calculate the slant range, the elevation or declination of the barrel according to the terrain auto adjustment for and according to ambient temperature and the elevation or declination of the barrel according to the type of round used by the gun. Thus, when the agile reticule 215 is aligned with the stationary reticule 210, the barrel may be aligned for an accurate shot for all external conditions and target type. In an embodiment of the invention, the screen 135 may also have a wind direction marker 260 to designate the wind direction and magnitude. The screen may also have a barrel compass bearing 280 to give the direction in which the sight assembly may be pointing.

The screen 135 may also have markings 205 on the screen edges. A gunner may modify the parameters used by the sight assembly by touching the appropriate parameter markings 205 on the screen 135 with, for instance, stylus 105. In an embodiment of the invention, the markings may be seen on edges of the screen 135 in red, black or yellow color.

An exemplary list of the expanded scope of the screen edge markings (“SEMs”) 205 used in FIG. 2 is shown below in Table 1.

TABLE 1 SEM Associated Function SEM Associated Function O/off System Power On TS Trigger Safety ZM Viewing Optics Zoom NF Night Flare Round Feature R Slant Range BL Back-Light Screen (day) RC Slant Range Collimation FL Front-Light Screen (night) Change HT Heat Anti-Armor Round BD Barrel Axial Direction (0°-359°) HE High Explosive Round SR Stationary Reticle On PHT Practice Heat Round ET Ambient External Temperature PHE Practice High Explosive RD Red Dot Aiming Reticle On Round AP Anti-Armor Round PA Practice Anti-Armor Round D Daylight Screen L Laser On

Accordingly, for example, with reference to FIG. 2, the screen edge marking 205 designated with the text “O” 206 may allow a gunner to control the power of the sight assembly 100. In another example, the screen edge marking 205 designated with the text “ZM” 207 may allow a gunner to view the zoom feature associated with the optics. In yet another example, the screen edge marking 205 designated with the text “HT” 208 may allow a gunner to specify that the round being used is of the heat anti-armor round type. In yet another example, the screen edge marking 205 designated with the text “L” 270 may allow a gunner to control the laser pulses with an optional push button 275.

With further reference to FIG. 2, in addition to FIG. 1A, in an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a user may operate the sight assembly apparatus 100 described herein in the following manner. The user may first deploy screen 135 from a protective housing. As described herein, the screen may either be back-lit of front-lit depending on whether the screen is deployed during the day or at night. The user may then subsequently deploy the viewing optics and at least one screen cover 170. The stylus 105 would then be withdrawn, in some embodiments from its own protective housing, in order to enact various functions of the apparatus by touching the appropriate spot, such as, for instance, one of the screen edge markings 205. In some embodiments of the invention, use of stylus 105 may be preferable to an embodiment where a user simply touches the screen 135 with his or her finger, such as, for instance, in environments where the user is required to wear gloves.

The user may then power the apparatus “on” by using stylus 105 to touch screen edge marking “O” 206, and may also power the automatic exterior ambient temperature sensor “on” by using stylus 105 to touch screen edge marking “ET” 209. In response to the ambient temperature sensor, the “red ball” of the agile reticule 215, positioned over the vertical axis of stationary reticule 210, may move up (if temperature is lower) or down (if temperature is higher). The user may then designate the selected round type that has been loaded, or that will be loaded, into the weapon (i.e, armor-piercing, high explosive, flair practice, etc.), and may again use stylus 105 to touch a corresponding screen edge marking 205. In response to the designated round type, the “red ball” of the agile reticule 215 may move up or down in accordance with the anticipated trajectory of the round. For example, an armor-piercing round with a flatter trajectory may cause agile reticule 215 to move “up” the screen slightly, whereas a high explosive round with a more elevated trajectory will cause agile reticule 215 to move “up” the screen more significantly.

The user may then use stylus 105 to touch a screen edge marking 205 corresponding to “range,” and then place agile reticule 215 on the selected target. Laser range finder 115 may then pulse approximately one second per touch. The agile reticule 215 may then move up or down on screen 135 to indicate a greater or lesser range. The user then immediately raises or lowers the barrel, keeping agile reticule 215 centered on the desired target and aligning the red ball with the center of stationary reticule 210, and fires the round. For moving targets, laser range finder 115 may take many samples of range and integrate these samples, adding a predictive filter to agile reticule 215 at the instant of firing. This offers some compensation for the changed positions of moving targets.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual block diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of the sight assembly apparatus. The sight assembly apparatus 100 may comprise a laser range finder 305, an optical receiver and one or more focal planes 310 and a sight assembly screen 315. In an embodiment of the invention, the laser range finder 305 may have an internal adjustable collimator to ensure best reflected slant range depending on factors such as the target, range and external conditions. The sight assembly screen 315 may display various outputs and may allow the sight's functions to be adjusted by the gunner, using, for instance, stylus 105. The sight assembly 100 may also comprise a computer processor 320 and a power source 325. A gunner may interact with the sight assembly by touching the screen edge markings 335 utilized by the sight assembly screen 315. There may also be a general bus 330 that communicates the gunner's touch actions, along with the parameters determined using the laser range finder 305 and the optical receiver and one or more focal planes 310, to the computer processor 320 for further computation. Once all the parameters have been determined, the computer processor 320 may calculate the specific aim point for each round using one or more of the following data points: the elevation of the barrel of the weapon, range (determined using the laser range finder 305), position of the target compared to the horizontal (that is, above the horizontal or below the horizontal), temperature of the air at the moment of firing, compass position and approximate velocity and direction of the wind.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual block diagram illustrating the electrical structure of an exemplary embodiment of the sight assembly. The laser range finder 305 will send out energy beams that will be reflected back from the target and received by the optical receiver and one or more focal planes 310. The photons received by the optical receiver and one or more focal planes 310 will be processed by one or more pre-amplifiers 410 and one or more post-amplifiers 420. The received signal will then be converted to a digital signal using an analog to digital converter 425. In an embodiment of the invention, the analog to digital converter 425 will be a 8-bit analog to digital converter. In another embodiment of the invention, the analog to digital converter 425 will be a 12-bit analog to digital converter.

There may also be a general bus 330 that communicates the gunner's touch actions, such as selecting a particular ammunition from the ammunition types 430, along with the parameters determined using the laser range finder 305 and the optical receiver and one or more focal planes 310, to the computer processor 320 for further computation. The gunner may control the laser range finder using the screen edge marking designated with the text “L” 270 that may allow a gunner to control the laser pulses with an optional push button. The sight assembly may also gather parameters from the agile reticule 215, the wind direction marker 260, the moving target filters 450, the screen daylight indicator 460, the screen night-light indicator 465, the fire-weapon indicator 470, the screen 135 with a digital-analog converter 475 and the barrel compass bearing 280.

Once all the parameters have been determined, the computer processor 320 may calculate the specific aim point for each round using one or more of the following data points: the elevation of the barrel of the weapon, range (determined using the laser range finder 305), position of the target compared to the horizontal (that is, above the horizontal or below the horizontal), temperature of the air at the moment of firing, compass position and approximate velocity and direction of the wind. The sight assembly 100 may be powered by one or more power sources 395 a and 395 b that may be controlled using one or more ON-OFF switches 490 a and 490 b.

It will be readily understood by those persons skilled in the art that the present invention is susceptible to broad utility and application. Many embodiments and adaptations of the present invention other than those herein described, as well as many variations, modifications and equivalent arrangements, will be apparent from or reasonably suggested by the present invention and foregoing description thereof, without departing from the substance or scope of the invention.

Accordingly, while the present invention has been described here in detail in relation to its exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that this disclosure is only illustrative and exemplary of the present invention and is made to provide an enabling disclosure of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing disclosure is not intended to be construed or to limit the present invention or otherwise to exclude any other such embodiments, adaptations, variations, modifications and equivalent arrangements. 

1. A sight assembly apparatus for a weapon to sight one or more targets, the apparatus comprising: a first tube comprising of an optical receiver and at least one focal plane to receive photons of at least one target; a second tube comprising of a laser range finder; mounting hardware to mount the sight assembly on the weapon; and an electronics box comprising: a screen to display at least one option to the user, at least one computer processor executing stored instructions to determine an aim point, at least one power source to supply power to the sight assembly, and a stylus.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first tube and the second tube are parallel.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first tube and second tube are protected by lens protector covers.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mounting hardware is a clamp.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mounting hardware is rail mounted.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one focal plane has an impact beam prism split for day and night.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one focal plane is used as a laser reflected energy receiver.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the laser range finder is a carbon dioxide laser.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the laser range finder is a continuous wave carbon dioxide laser.
 10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the laser range finder is a pulsed carbon dioxide laser.
 11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the laser range finder has an adjustable collimator.
 12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the stylus is connected to the electronics box using a wire cable spring.
 13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the stylus is a sensitive touch stylus.
 14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the screen is a touch screen.
 15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the screen is hardened to absorb jolts.
 16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the screen display comprises an image generated by infrared photons.
 17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the screen display comprises: an agile reticule; a stationary reticule; and markings to allow a gunner to interact with the sight assembly system.
 18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the agile reticule is aligned with the stationary reticule indicates the instant to fire the weapon.
 19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the computer processor comprises of at least one table containing data to determine the aim point for at least one round fired by the weapon.
 20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sight assembly further comprises a radio transceiver for receiving instructions from a command and control position. 